The type of peel appropriate for you depends upon what condition you are trying to improve. For a peel to work you need to match the depth of the peel to the depth of the problem. It is true that in darkly pigmented skin caution must be exercised with chemical peeling. A good initial peel to try is a... more
What peels are safe for African-American skin?
I have a yellow/tan complexion (similar to Beyonce's), and I'd like to find out what peels are safe for me. I've searched for a long time for this answer and can't find the true answer (for example, some sites say TCA can be used, then some sites say TCA is not for non-white skin). Thank you for your answers!
3 answers to “What peels are safe for...”
A: Peels for African-American skin
A more important question for you will be: where should I go to get my peel? Certain peels are safe for African-American skin and are indeed beneficial. These peels can also be dangerous and lead to pigment problems. It would be extremely important for you not to cut corners, make sure you have them done by an... more
A: TCA can be risky for African-American skin.
I would start with a salicylic acid peel (20%) or Jessner's peel. These solutions tend to be less problematic for African-American skin. TCA peels in ethnic skin should be used with caution and I would not go higher than 10% TCA. If I was going to use TCA on African-American skin, I would... more
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18 posts
21 Jan 2009
Pre-treatment is paramount before any treatment on skin of color. Any stimulation can stimulate a reaction to the cells which then produces more color. Pretreating with a product that inhibits that reaction will increase the chances for a positive outcome. Mandelic Acid works very well on all skin colors as it typically won't over stimulate the skin, but still provides an exceptionally good treatment. Another treatment is the Vitalize peel which is a modified Jessner's peel, again, developed to not overstimulate the skin. While it might take a little longer for you to see the desired results, it is better to proceed slowly and those results will come. See a qualified clinician in a dermatology or plastic surgery office as they are better equipped to address any issues that might occur.
25 posts
19 Jan 2009
Pigmented skin must be treated gently due to the tendency for the skin to hyperpigment, or what is known as PIH (post inflammatory hyperpigmentation), this can occur with any aggressive skin treatment. It's best to get a good skin analysis by a licensed professional that can properly skin type you. There are many peel types on the market today. I''ve used modified Jessner's peel that has low TCA with Lactic acid on pigmented skin with excellent results. The key is a good skin analysis first and discuss your options with a professional that has experience in treating pigmented skin.